Tobacco information in two grade school newsweeklies: A content analysis

Abstract

Objectives. This study compared tobacco-related articles from two elementary school publications, Weekly Reader and Scholastic News, published in 1989 through 1994. Methods. Articles for grades 4 through 6 were evaluated, and the publications were compared with each other. Also, issues of Weekly Reader published after acquisition by K-III, which is owned by the finn that formerly owned RJR Tobacco, were compared with the earlier ones. Results. Weekly Reader was less likely than Scholastic News to mention short- term consequences of smoking (32% vs 64%) or to give a clear 'no-use' message (35% vs 79%). Weekly Reader was more likely to give the tobacco industry position (68% vs 32%). Post-K-III issues of Weekly Reader were less likely to provide a clear no-use message than earlier ones (62% vs 24%). Conclusions. Health professionals need to monitor the health information carried in these publications, which reach between 1 and 2 million students per grade level each week. Although neither publication had perfect tobacco coverage, Scholastic News was significantly better than Weekly Reader.